If you are serious about seeing your work published by reputable publishers, there are a few points you should consider. Firstly and most obviously, you need to determine if you have poetry worth publishing. This assessment can be done by doing something that will not only help you gauge the competitiveness of your poetry, but will give you some viable options for publishing it. Subscribe to literary journals and buy books of poetry. If you do this, what you are doing is searching out the market place. Read the types of poetry that many publishers are publishing and see if the quality of these poems surpasses or is on par with the quality of your own poems.
Read Literary Journals and Poetry Books
Not all literary journals are going to publish the same type of poetry. Some journals will only publish poetry that rhymes, most will not publish poetry that rhymes, and some journals will focus on specific themes such as humanity, nature, or locality. After having perused your bookstores and the many available literary journals, you will more than likely find a publisher who publishes poetry that your very own poetry would compliment. You can find reputable literary publishers by doing a search online, by reading the biographies of respected poets, and by checking out your local universities and colleges. When you find these publishers, write down the name, the address and keep a log, because these are going to be your potential publishers.
Improve Your Chances
The next vital aspect of publishing that you will need to consider is the actual process of getting your works accepted by the publishers. Each publisher will have very specific guidelines for submissions. Read these guidelines carefully and be sure to follow them precisely. Some online publishers will accept submissions via attachments while others frown upon attachments. Following the guidelines is crucial because whether your poetry is Pulitzer Prize quality or not, if you do not follow these guidelines, there is a good chance that your submissions will never even get read.
Be Savvy
Also, do a little research before submitting your work to a publisher. Invest in resource materials for poets such as The Poet's Market. The better educated you are with regard to the publishing industry, the better your chances of avoiding the hassle of fighting scams and vanity presses. Because poetry is a hard market to sell, most publishers are struggling to stay afoot. Since there is such a small market for those seeking to buy poetry, vanity presses capitalize on the overwhelming desire of the public to become published.
Cover Letters
Aside from researching the market, you should sharpen your skills at writing cover letters with the same intensity that you sharpen your skills at writing poetry. You can search online workshops and information sites about poetry, or you can refer to The Poet's Market for more information on writing cover letters. Not all publishers will necessitate cover letters, but a good cover letter will improve the chances of the editors actually reading your poetry.
Expect Rejections
Finally, expect a few rejections. As I previously mentioned, there is an overwhelming imbalance between the number of people who are looking to buy literary journals and books as compared to those who wish to publish it. Do not be discouraged if your work is rejected. Try revising it and sending it out to another publisher. Also, despite the fact that a rejection can make you want to send out your piece to several different publishers at once, you should never send your work to multiple publishers.
When a publisher accepts your work, enjoy the pride that comes along with such esteem. You will be on your way to building a portfolio. Getting your poetry published by various publishers is sometimes a slow and arduous adventure, but it is well worth the time and work.
Devrie Paradowski has been published by several literary journals such as Adagio Verse Quarterly, Eclips e-zine and Meeting of the Minds Journal. She has also published articles with Poetry Renewal Magazine. She is the editor of LE Quarterly: http://www.literaryescape.com/journal/
Key Largo:The fans turn lazily in front of the doorThey... Read More
English VersionThe Merchant of Copan [480 AD]Advance: The ballgame at... Read More
Do not be afraid to shine. This world needs what... Read More
LIFE IS A FANTASY!A pink-eyed rabbit, fuzzy whiteHops in bedrooms... Read More
Part OneI tell you a legend of long ago Of... Read More
What Hides behind the Minute?What hides behind the minute? It... Read More
Ironically, the passion that can neutralize the repulsion for difficulties... Read More
"I heard what you said, Red. Yet, I have to... Read More
A poetic comment that just welled up inside my head... Read More
During interviews and general conversations with the public,one of the... Read More
You are to me my lifeline my security. That scares... Read More
Here are three more poems by the author, Dennis Siluk,... Read More
I want to get closeI am afraid.Afraid of what... Read More
Four Poems: Katrina's PathwayHarvest of Apoplectic Horses ((Dedicated to: Katrina))... Read More
The Incubus' Flash-lightHe looked inside my head And found a... Read More
The Epic Poem:A Death in Cajamarca, Peru [Atahualpa, in Cajamarca]Advance:... Read More
Ode to QuetzalcóatlQuetzalcóatl the GreatNo one knew his true name,... Read More
One of the most important poets of the post-war period,... Read More
Growing hurts sometimes; saying goodbye to friends, ... Read More
"Song of the Great Zimbabwe"Across the African, winter's skyIn the... Read More
Have you ever sat there staring at the paper, ready... Read More
AFRICA (to africans in diaspora)africa here i come, africa africa... Read More
Let's follow the poet to his Hell and heaven! Count... Read More
I can see the cerulean blue of the skiesOr the... Read More
Happy, Sad, Mad and Glad, Moved in down the streetCautious... Read More
My life has changedin so so many waysIt seems to... Read More
I will never think twice nor will I roll the... Read More
Dedícate to Antonio Castillo. L. Of. Los Andes UniversitarioOde to:The... Read More
1) Doña Leonor's Revenge [1627 AD]Rafael Ortiz's fate Was... Read More
Ocean Heal MeOcean heal my wounds Let your waves curl... Read More
You can do and you can be whatever you want.... Read More
Tale of the Brick Maker, Of San Jerónimo, Peru... Read More
Most of my poems are written late at night, often,... Read More
As I picked up some of the polished gemstones in... Read More
Growing hurts sometimes; saying goodbye to friends, ... Read More
War bombs may explode demolishing man and land. Hurricanes may... Read More
I WANTED TO SAY IT WITH A BUNCH OF FLOWERS... Read More
Poetry is more than just rhyming and prose that is... Read More
"Song of the Great Zimbabwe"Across the African, winter's skyIn the... Read More
I AM SO GRATEFUL for simpler times. Stores were closed... Read More
Isn't that what they say?But what does that mean?There's no... Read More
1)dying in the bar [sluggishly]yet, I would crawl too upto... Read More
Amy King Antidotes for an Alibi BlazeVox Books ISBN 0-9759227-5-0... Read More
[Episode Five]Arizona Blue-GunfighterThe Wolves Nest-in the North[Episode Five]Northern Minnesota Area?Winter... Read More
Have you ever experienced infatuation with someone you know is... Read More
Ed Gallagher Dec. 11, 1907 - Sept. 5, 2004This poem... Read More
Man UnbowedUnbowed by sin, the world of man, stands Upon... Read More
Hammers. Timbers. Iron. Steel.They're laying down a mighty keel.As ant-like... Read More
It was not me as I am now. It was... Read More
(The city by the bay of Northern California, near which... Read More
Since Mohamed Ali?then Cassius Clay?announced that he had written "The... Read More
Footprints to Mantaro Valley (English version)In what retreat art hid?-Where... Read More
The Exit Poems [And Socrates]Iron and FireIron can be... Read More
Most of my poems are written late at night, often,... Read More
How I wonder what he's doing as I sit alone... Read More
Bells for Belphegor!...Where immortal veils never meet Belphegor, Arch devil... Read More
Way of Life: Rhymes of the IncaPizarro (Spanish conquistador ((1525))The... Read More
The following two poems, one in English, the other in... Read More
I can see the cerulean blue of the skiesOr the... Read More
If a happiness poem could bring forth a smile, Then... Read More
I never met a man, who could shake my hand,... Read More
The Goat and the Ropewhere there were devils I saw... Read More
Little girl from HuancayoDo you really, really know? Just how... Read More
So many looked to you for inspiration,Unlikely hero for the... Read More
AFRICA (to africans in diaspora)africa here i come, africa africa... Read More
English VersionA bunch of us guys in the hutIn ?Nam... Read More
Poetry |